Comments on: BFS to close after 23 yearshttps://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/30625/bfs-to-close-after-23-years/
Eat, drink and be candidMon, 19 Mar 2018 09:37:58 +0000hourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4By: EJhttps://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/30625/bfs-to-close-after-23-years/#comment-709624
Thu, 26 Jul 2012 20:07:56 +0000http://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/?p=30625#comment-709624We used to be regular summer customers and loved the waitstaff that worked there, but our regular waitress left after some time, and was replaced by others who were less friendly and attentive. Like others here, we witnessed the best and not-so-best of Mr. Rabadi, on some occasions he would stop by our table, recognizing us as regulars, and ask about our food or tell us about his daughter singing the national anthem at a Knicks game. Other times, we’d inquire about eating out on the patio and watch our query to the waitstaff intercepted by Mr. Rabadi who would quite coldly state it would be too much trouble to have a waiter have to venture out on the patio just to attend to us, and sternly dismiss our request. Our meals were usually very good, but one time we went mid-week rather than our customary Friday or Saturday evening, and had pre-made meals inadequately heated and served to us. We eventually stopped going as things became less inviting there.
]]>By: Maryhttps://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/30625/bfs-to-close-after-23-years/#comment-679306
Wed, 30 May 2012 19:55:40 +0000http://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/?p=30625#comment-679306I would like to express what a wonderful, creative and generous professional Shaw is. Having eaten there several times over many years I never had a complaint. Shaw was extremely generous to several non profits in the areas and went beyond any other restaurant owner at each of the events he participated in. At each consecutive event he always made sure the participants were enjoying what he had to offer.
Thanks Shaw for all you did for the CF Foundation and making our special events so successful.

]]>By: Mirihttps://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/30625/bfs-to-close-after-23-years/#comment-667232
Thu, 10 May 2012 03:53:24 +0000http://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/?p=30625#comment-667232First of all i am really sad to hear about BFS going out of business. I see lots of comments regarding employee/employer relationship. However most of this talkers do not know what it takes to run a restaurant business. I worked at BFS for many years, yes there were ups and downs among staff but that takes place everywhere. I learned a lot from Mr. Rabadi and I gained valuable skills while working at BFS. Oh btw BFS stands for Best Fresh Selection,, just think outside the box ppl it doesn’t take that much it’s just showing how poor your thinking process is. When it comes to food quality,,, BFS was always on time union or metro 20 paper for the best Mediterranean food, so that explains my point.
I wish you the best Shaw
]]>By: williepitthttps://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/30625/bfs-to-close-after-23-years/#comment-665786
Tue, 08 May 2012 14:30:52 +0000http://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/?p=30625#comment-665786Mickey (#28), I agree. We always had good food and service there.

#26-27: My understanding is that the BFS name may have meant “Big F•••ing Sandwich”.

]]>By: Mickeyhttps://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/30625/bfs-to-close-after-23-years/#comment-665781
Tue, 08 May 2012 14:18:23 +0000http://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/?p=30625#comment-665781Regrettable to see all the negativity. I never had any of the experiences the others discuss. I usually got food to take out; never had a problem with the quality and particularly liked the grape leaves, although I’d agree it was a little pricey. In an era of gutless, soulless chains, I do not celebrate the inability of a locally owned place that serves healthy food going out of business.
]]>By: Kerosenahttps://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/30625/bfs-to-close-after-23-years/#comment-664922
Mon, 07 May 2012 18:56:20 +0000http://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/?p=30625#comment-664922@Justin Stark-I’m not sure if things have changed, but when I worked there “BFS” was a mystery only slightly less intriguing than the mystery of Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain.” The staff wasn’t told what the initials stood for.

Guesses included:
Best F-ing Sandwich
Best For Shaw
Bull F-ing Sh-t (if you were a particularly disgruntled employee or customer)

Care to guess what ‘BFS’ stood for? As
I understood it back when, it was the
initials from “best f-ing sandwich”,
but I am notoriously unreliable.

]]>By: Don't believe the hypehttps://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/30625/bfs-to-close-after-23-years/#comment-664736
Mon, 07 May 2012 13:39:27 +0000http://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/?p=30625#comment-664736Always sad to see a local business close. I wish them well, but I do feel they need to give customers more time (or a refund) to use their gift cards/certificates, especially since just last month they were listed on a discount website…
]]>By: Emeril Lhttps://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/30625/bfs-to-close-after-23-years/#comment-663610
Sun, 06 May 2012 01:31:28 +0000http://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/?p=30625#comment-663610When you drive by this place you have no idea what this place is from looking at it from the Western Avenue side. Its overgrown greenery on the Western Avenue side and the sign is confusing on its marquee. Sorry to see them go, I never ate there and didn’t know it was a restaurant but sometimes you go out of business because of simple things, your ad, your service etc.
]]>By: Annhttps://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/30625/bfs-to-close-after-23-years/#comment-663226
Sat, 05 May 2012 12:27:54 +0000http://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/?p=30625#comment-663226Shaw catered our vegetarian son’s bar mitzvah luncheon 12 years ago. The food was amazing, beautifully presented and Shaw oversaw every aspect of the service. Even the meat eaters raved about the food. Our daughter and I had lunch at the restaurant on occasion; it was always a good place to go to have a quiet conversation and a nice meal. But the prices edged up on the high side and we found other more interesting places to eat. Still sorry to see it go–it’s been a bit of an institution around Albany.
And, note to all supervisors who work in front of the public–DO NOT berate your employees in front of your customers! It just makes you look like a jerk.
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